Today's parade is expected to start at around 2:30 p.m. The route begins at the Capitol and ends at the White House. Obama will participate in the parade, then watch the floats and bands from a reviewing stand outside the White House.

#Inauguration fun fact: Thomas Jefferson had the first inaugural parade in Washington in 1801. #inaug2013Starting Point CNNvia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:18 AM

President Obama is on his way to St. John's Episcopal Church by motorcade. It is across Lafayette Sqare from the White House. This is the first event of the day.

by Dana Davidsen, CNN1/21/2013 1:35:28 PM

As the president heads to St. John's episcopal church, people gather along Pennsylvania Ave. The president will be ceremoniously sworn in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol around 11:30am EST for a second term. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

On Martin Luther King Day, important to note that over ONE MILLION Americans have died from gun violence since his 1968 assassination. RIP.

by Dana Davidsen, CNN1/21/2013 1:40:21 PM

More from CNN's Kevin Liptak reporting from the National Mall:

The streets were crowded by 6:30am EST with large groups headed to the mall, including hundreds of these kids wearing flag hats from the Lead America conference (they come from all over the country). People without tickets were routed all the way to the Southwest Waterfront, then walked the ten or so blocks back up to the mall.

Police positioned guardrails and Metrobuses at the entrance to the mall to siphon people in single file, creating a slight bottleneck -- but almost everyone kept a good attitude as they made their way into the unticketed section.

With hours to go until the program begins, people are standing packed in relatively tightly, watching a video program with trivia questions and taped messages from celebs and Obama supporters.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 1:40:38 PM

Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, have arrived at the church service. The tradition of attending an inauguration day worship service began in 1933 with FDR.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 1:41:39 PM

More about the church where Obama and Biden are attending a worship service with their families from CNN's Dan Merica:

Fun fact about St. Johns Episcopal: The pews of the church have kneel cushions with the name of every president inscribed on them.danielpmericavia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:41 AM

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 1:44:05 PM

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live from the parade route describing some of the floats which will travel the approximately two-miles from the Capitol to the White House. More on the parade and the other events to come today in our interactive schedule: www.cnn.com

Pres Monroe first refused to pick what pew the president would receive at St. John's. He worried it would violate church and state.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 1:51:54 PM

CNN's Martina Stewart reports authorities at the blue gate are admitting people with blue, orange, red and green tickets. The blue checkpoints would be some of the closest ones to the downtown transportation hub of Union Station.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 1:55:44 PM

CNN White House Correspondent Brianna Keilar snapped this photo of the president's limo, known as "The Beast" parked outside the church where Obama and his family are.

Later today, Obama is expected to ride in his limo up to the Capitol for the ceremonial swearing in. He is also expected to return to the White House in the limo, riding at the head of the inaugural parade.

There is so much open space on the mall right now that dozens upon dozens are laying down on blankets. Some are playing games, some are napping.

Also, there's one guy in camouflage uniform hoisting up a pole with the American flag and a "Don't tread on me flag," the symbol of the tea party. He's causing quite a stir, as some people have gathered around to argue with him. However, he's in a different gated section so I can't talk to him.

Another trend I've noticed is that many of the people I've talked to live in the DC area and didn't travel.

Here's the map of the mall provided by the Presidential Inaugural Committee showing the areas of the Mall which are open to people who don't have tickets for the Capitol grounds:

from the Presidential Inaugural Committee

by Gregory Wallace, CNN on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:00 AM

by Dana Davidsen, CNN1/21/2013 2:06:16 PM

What did President Obama do on the first morning of his second term? CNN White House correspondent Brianna Keilar reports that before heading to St. John's for church, the president exercised then received his daily presidential briefing. Afterwards, he ate breakfast with his family, according to a source familiar with the president's plans.

President Obama is sitting with his family in the front row at St. John's Episcopal Church, according to reporters who are inside the church. At the other end of the row is Vice President Biden.

It is a full house, the pool reporter says, and the service is being led by Dr. Luis Leon, who will also deliver the benediction at the inauguration ceremony today.CNN's Lisa Desjardins and Eric Marrapodi reported last week:

León’s benediction will mark his second appearance on the inauguration stage. In 2005 he delivered the invocation for the President George W. Bush’s second inauguration.

"You don't get used to this. I'm just as nervous now as I was the first time,” León said. “From the moment someone asks you to do that, your wheels are spinning with what to say. So my wheels were spinning now."

Leon began the service this morning with a special welcome to Obama, the first lady, and the vice president, according to the pool reporter.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 2:12:23 PM

CNN Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist is in the control room this morning as Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper anchor coverage Live on CNN:

According to a White House official, the first lady is wearing a navy Thom Browne coat and dress with a J.Crew belt and shoes. Her cardigan is designed by Reed Krakoff and her necklace by Cathy Waterman. Her outfit will go to the National Archives after the inauguration activities.

Their eldest daughter, Malia, is wearing J.Crew and Sasha is wearing a Kate Spade coat and dress.

Some thoughts about what Obama will say in his inaugural address, which he will deliver after being sworn in at noon:

CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger: "This will be a lot of poetry and I think the State of the Union address is going to be the prose where he really lays out the agenda."

David Maraniss, author of a biography of Obama, says: "Four years ago there were huge crowds and so much ebullience about the moment and he gave a somewhat of a wintry speech. This time, the crowds are smaller, there are less expectations, and I think he's going to give a much more optimistic speech. I think he feels he's in a much better place today than he was at this same point four years ago."

by Steve Krakauer, CNN1/21/2013 2:22:53 PM

Right now, Soledad O'Brien is interviewing Angela Bassett near the stage where Obama will take the oath of office later today. Eva Longoria interview coming up shortly on CNN as well.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 2:25:00 PM

CNN's Ashley Killough is out on the National Mall talking with folks who are there to watch the swearing-in ceremony, which begins at about 11:30 a.m. Some of them have been waiting for hours.

You can't miss these hats: There's a group of 400 high school and junior high students here--all wearing the same red and white striped hats. With an organization called "Lead America," they come from all over the world. Egypt. Saudi Arabia. Georgia. Ohio. Many signed up five months ago, before the election. They've been here since 5 a.m. and they came prepared, as they're now snacking on their boxed lunches--at 9 a.m. What do they think so far? One consensus: It's crowded. But they're not complaining about the music so far, especially Bruce Springsteen. The boss apparently appeals to all ages.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN1/21/2013 2:28:13 PM

CNN's Joe Johns says 113,000 have traveled through the Metro system so far, according to officials. CNN's Shannon Travis is speaking to a family -- three generations who are attending the inauguration together. Authorities say they are expecting 800,000 to 900,000 people to attend today, down from the 1.8 million four years ago.

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee are the co-chairs of the Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee. When they ride to Capitol Hill for the ceremony, Schumer will ride with Obama and Alexander will ride with the vice president, Alexander told CNN's Ted Barrett.

Inaugural co-chairs Schumer and Alexander just departed east front of Capitol to go pick up President and VP.Jim Acostavia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:27 AM